Ballast Point Calico Amber Ale

Brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company
Style: Amber Ale
San Diego, California USA

Rerate: Bumped to 4.6 in a head to head with Alesmith’s ESB, although the two are completely different animals. I go with my original comments re: the Cascades, but also the malt is deeper, richer, sweeter than I remember from before. Superb, if a bit out of style guidelines. I HIGHLY recommend this brewery, as does VENOM. Find at hitimewine.com...now! Original: 6/07/02: Hard to believe, but even better, IMO, than Alesmith’s ESB. More hoppy (at least more caascadey) than the latter, yet still very richly malty. But the killer, that gives it a 10 in aroma in my book, is the yeast addition. This is omething special, and I broke my cardinal rule, my prime directive...I only ordered one!

For some reason I have never tried this beer before. What an awesome amber ale. Pours a nice reddish/brown color with a thin off-white head. Smells hoppy and spicy. Kind of a hoppy spiciness. That mix of grass and citrus, you know. Tastes very good, nice and hoppy but not too aggressive as to be offensive or anything. Nice warm malt flavors on the back of the tongue. Palate is super crisp, thin body and nice and dry on the finish. Good carbonation. This is one of the best amber’s I have ever had, if not the best. Definitely a beer you could sit down with and enjoy continuously for many, many hours.

This beer is a masterpiece! It pours a brilliant glowing amber with thick rocky head. Aroma is mildly muted but caramel apples and noble hops are shining through. The flavor melange gushes forth with aspects of melons, caramel, lemony hops. Lingering bitterness. Just spectacular! Many thanks to DarkElf - this is a great beer.

Nice radiant amber color with a creamy white head. Scents of citrus, pine and notes of honey. Not overbearing and just pleasant enough fits this aroma profile. Balanced flavor of hops with the smooth malt flavor nicley blended . Great character as it ends a little sweet and fruity. This beer just makes you wanting for more. Very appetizing and quaffable. The quest for the perfect amber ale just may end here.

A subdued, lightly foamy head atop a classic looking amber/brown pour. A touch more citrus or even a tiny bit more sour than your average amber beer. Aroma isn’t very strong, but does smell good when you get close to it. A very smooth and flavorful amber, without quite as much as malty sweetness as others in the category. Not too sweet, not too bitter. A fine balance. Highly recommended amber, and another fine ale from Ballast Point.

On Cask at Stone World Brewing Bistro and Gardens. Aroma of roasted and carmel malts, with a balance of hops. Pours opaque and deep amber/red/brown, nice full off-white head. Retention is good. Flavor begins with nice smooth roasted malt and finishes with a nice hoppy (pine/roasted nuts) throat. Very nice lacing. Medium body. Drinkability is medium-high, every sip begs you to take another. Really nice on cask. Throughout there is a nice balance between the malt and the hops, neither is too overpowering. Very well done Amber Ale, should be rated higher!

Nice aroma with definate hop authority but an underlying sweetness that I cant place. Big mouthfeel with hops biting first and the malts coming through to level everything out. San Diego is becoming quite the beer hot spot. Easy drinking ESB.

Very good body, rich malt taste. A fine ESB on tap locally.